At the invitation of the Monmouth County Superintendent’s Office, CARMA Center to Combat Antisemitism and Reinforce Multicultural Acceptance, an initiative of Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey, presented to more than 30 Monmouth County superintendents and senior administrators with a coordinated framework of proactive and reactive resources to help schools recognize, prevent, and respond to antisemitism and faith-based hate before, during, and after an incident.
The presentation addressed the forms of antisemitism Jewish students are encountering, including harassment, threats, and the targeting of visibly Jewish students. The message to the superintendents was that these incidents are more than disciplinary matters. They affect student safety, family trust, school climate, and the broader community, and they must be addressed.
The key message was that schools do not have to navigate these challenges alone. As a central point of coordination, CARMA connects districts with professional development, student education, family guidance, administrator consultation, confidential reporting support, incident response, and restorative education.
Proactive Education and Prevention
CARMA’s professional development helps educators recognize antisemitic language, symbols, stereotypes, coded speech, and harmful classroom dynamics. It also provides practical tools for leading difficult conversations, establishing respectful classroom expectations, and developing consistent protocols for responding to incidents.
A central component of the presentation was a demonstration by CARMA’s partner, 3GNJ. 3GNJ is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and teaching Holocaust history from the perspective of the third generation. Dr. Amy Goodman and Wendy Tepper, 3GNJ representatives, shared their families’ Holocaust experiences, bringing history to life in a deeply personal way. Their stories help students understand that Holocaust survivors and victims are not simply names or statistics in a textbook; they are the parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents of people in their own communities.
School leaders were introduced to Project Zachor: Remember!, a turnkey, age-appropriate Holocaust education program that supports New Jersey’s Holocaust and genocide education mandate.
Dr. Chaya Friedmann, creator of Project Zachor, explained that the program uses interactive timelines, maps, photographs, testimony, guided discussion, art, and reflection to help students understand how prejudice, propaganda, dehumanization, and silence can lead to persecution and genocide. Students also learn about courage, resistance, rescue, and the choices made by people who refused to remain bystanders. The program includes opportunities for selected students to become peer educators, strengthening their leadership, confidence, and sense of responsibility.
Responding After a Bias Incident
School leaders were also introduced to ShiftED: Shifting Perspective Through Education, a restorative educational response to bias incidents in schools.
ShiftED helps students understand the meaning and consequences of the hateful words, symbols, or actions involved in an incident. Through guided education, students examine antisemitism, Nazi ideology, propaganda, and the progression from hate speech to discrimination and violence.
The program encourages students to resist hateful narratives, take responsibility for their choices, and become upstanders in their schools and communities. It is intended to address the underlying ignorance, misinformation, or prejudice that may have contributed to the biased behavior.
The presentation also highlighted additional trusted resources, including the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education, Chhange, the USC Shoah Foundation’s IWitness platform, and the CARMA Helpline, which provides confidential reporting and guidance for students, families, and schools.
By bringing these programs and partners together, CARMA is building a one-stop resource for schools seeking to prevent antisemitism, respond effectively when incidents occur, and create learning environments where every student feels safe and respected.
For more information about CARMA’s school resources, professional development, or incident-response support, visit CARMAcenter.org or contact info@carmacenter.org.